Surge in Black Friday Phishing Scams and Major Global Cybersecurity Developments
New York – As the world dives into the shopping frenzy of Black Friday and Cyber Monday, a significant uptick in phishing scams has emerged, according to a report by Egress. The cybersecurity company noted a 237% increase in phishing emails during the first two weeks of November compared to the months of September and October. The UK’s National Cyber Security Centre has urged consumers to remain alert, especially in light of AI technology intensifying the threat. Last year, festive scams in the UK resulted in losses of £10 million.
According to World Economic Forum, the rise in phishing emails is part of a broader trend of cybercriminals targeting globally recognized brands during high-traffic shopping periods. In a separate development, Australia announced a comprehensive cybersecurity plan aimed at becoming a global leader in this field by 2030. This announcement comes in the wake of several major data breaches impacting millions of Australians.
In other cybersecurity news, a significant operation in Ukraine led to the arrest of a suspected ransomware gang leader. The gang, accused of extorting hundreds of millions of dollars, has impacted victims across more than 70 countries. The US Federal Bureau of Investigation has highlighted a trend of ransomware attacks on casinos, with recent incidents involving Caesars Entertainment and MGM Resort. Meanwhile, India’s Central Bureau of Investigation, in collaboration with tech giants like Microsoft and Amazon, conducted raids against fraudulent tech support call centers.
A ransomware attack in Slovenia has compromised the systems of the country’s largest power generator, Slovenske Elektrarne, although power production remains unaffected. Cyber actors linked to North Korea, identified as the Lazarus threat group, have been targeting software supply chains globally. This information was released by intelligence agencies from the Republic of Korea and the United Kingdom.
General Electric (GE) is investigating a breach where data from its development environment was allegedly stolen and is now being sold by a threat actor named IntelBroker. This breach includes data linked to US military technologies. Furthermore, a hack on Okta’s customer support system has led to data theft from all its clients, with the exception of certain US government clients.
Lastly, the increased use of generative AI, such as ChatGPT, raises concerns about bias and accuracy, highlighting the need for caution in handling sensitive issues. The EU’s right to be forgotten allows individuals to request the deletion of their personal information from online platforms. The growing shortage of cybersecurity professionals presents a challenge to the global economy, necessitating collaborative efforts in talent development. Research from SpyCloud shows that over 80% of companies have experienced ransomware attacks, underlining the importance of early detection and prevention strategies.